Styrian Coarse Haired Hound vs Chinese Shar Pei - Breed Comparison

The Chinese Shar-Pei is originally from Canton, China. The Shar-Pei has a blue-black tongue and many deep wrinkles. They have more wrinkles as a puppy than the adult dogs do. They are one of the rarest breeds in the world and are considered a basal breed – meaning their existence predates modern canines. Most canines are related to the gray wolf through genetic admixture. However, there are breeds like the Siberian Husky, the Greenland Dog, Finnish Spitz and the Shar Pei are all related to the Taymyr Wolk of North Asia through admixture. The Shar Pei is found throughout the centuries in Chinese artwork, especially found during the Han Dynasty, and are considered one of the most ancient of breeds on earth today. In this period, they were fighting dogs then became beloved pets. Today the Tibetans still use them as fighting dogs.

Following the Communist Revolution, the Char Pei was almost extinct until Margo Law saved the breed. During this time, they smuggled around 200 dogs into the United States. All the dogs in the United States today come from those 200 dogs. They were accepted in 1992 into the AKC. The dogs served as trackers, hunters, ratters, guard dogs and herders.

The Styrian Coarse Haired Hound is a German hound, a medium sized breed that was found to originate in Styria in Austria. It was bred to be a boar hunting scent hound in the mountains. The breed is an Austrian Bracke and one of the largest. In the 1870’s the breed was developed by Karl Peintinger to get a hardy, rough coated hunting dog. Peintinger took the Istrian Hound and an old type scent hound of Hanoverian and continued selective breeding until he got the dog he wanted.

The breed is still used to hunt boar and track wounded animals. They work in high altitudes and rough terrains. They were not created to be companion animals and most of them are still working dogs. They do not make great house or family pets. Because of these circumstances, the breed is rare today.

Sometimes you will see the breed called the Peintinger Bracke after its developer. The Austrian Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1889 and the Federation Cynologique Internationale as a scent hound. The Styrian Coarse Haired Hounds were next recognized in 2006 by the United Kennel Club in North America, but not the AKC – American Kennel Club. There are many smaller kennel clubs and organizations for the breed as well many hunting clubs.

As mentioned, the breed is the largest of the Austrian Brackes. They are one of the three breeds included in the Grand Brackes. The name comes from the fact that all these dogs were developed for hunting in the Austrian mountains. They are pretty much unknown in the rest of the world. They thrive in the harsh climates of the Austrian mountains.

The Chines Sar Pei has what if known as a Horse-coat which is prickly, harsh, and rough to the touch on one direction and rough to touch on the other. Western Shar Peis can be Horse, Bearcoat and Brush. The Brush is longer and smoother while the Bear coat is rare and in-between the two. The Bearcoat is not accepted by the AKC while the other two types of coats are.

The Shar Pei should have a hippo shaped head, a black-purple tongue, black mouth, deep set almond shaped dark eyes, small ears and red coats. His profile is square, and his muzzle is full and wide. Most Shar Peis only have facial and neck wrinkles left as adults.

The Styrian Coarse haired Hound is well muscled, medium sized and lithe. They run easily on all types and levels of terrain. Their coat is rough and harsh, giving the breed part of its name. They can tolerate both extremes of the climate temperatures. They are strong and confident dogs wearing a very serious facial expression. These guys are all about the job – the hunt. Their prey drive is extremely high.

The Shar Pei must be socialized early to other people, children and animals if he is to be friendly with them. He is loyal to his people and instinctively wary of strangers. He will be completed devoted to his people, but he is reserved and independent. They can be aggressive and territorial if not socialized. They are stubborn, loving and loyal. They are dominant, brave and playful. They are great watch dogs. Keep them busy because they tend to think a lot independently and if they don’t have a job they may create one.

1.Children friendliness yes to older children

2.Special talents endurance/smell extremely strong senses of smell.

3.Adaptability no apartment for these guys. They need room to run.

4.Learning ability intelligent but stubborn

Because of the rushed and inexperienced breeding programs in the United States due to the popularity of the breed, there are many health issues in the North American version of the Shar Pei. Their life expectancy is generally under ten years. They are prone to:

• Familial Shar Pei Fever - congenital
• Atopic Dermatitis – due to skin and coat conditions
• Skin Infections – due to skin and coat conditions
• Amyloidosis – Long term related to FSF
• Entropion eye issues
• Ear infections
• Vitamin D deficiency hereditary

The breed is fairly healthy and isolated from crossbreeding. They are susceptible to several major conditions.

• Ear infections – keep them clean as with any dog with hanging ears.

• PRA or Progressive Retinal Atrophy = a group of degenerative, genetic eye diseases the cause blindness over time.

• Hip Dysplasia – can cause lameness and arthritis.
• Cancer – can be treated or fatal.
• Obesity – if they don’t get enough exercise.

• Bloat – most large dogs suffer from this and not so much a medium breed like this one, but it is a condition that their energy levels and work ethics could lead to. Fatal if not treated immediately.

Feeding

Feed a good quality dry dog food but do not overfeed. You should feed twice a day about one cup per six pounds for puppies. Adults should have two cups a day.

Health issues

• Familial Shar Pei Fever – congenital and serious. This produces fevers that can last from 24 hours to three days. Swelling around the ankles is due to fluid retention.

• Atopic Dermatitis – due to skin and coat conditions hereditary
• Skin Infections – due to skin and coat conditions hereditary
• Amyloidosis – Long term related to FSF and leads to renal failure.

• Entropion eye issues – eyelashes curl in and inflame the eye. Can cause blindness if not treated. Requires surgery.

• Ear infections – yeast infections – clean them often.
• Vitamin D deficiency hereditary – causes swollen hocks syndrome and fever.

Exercise and games

Both as a puppy and an adult this is a pretty active dog. He needs at the very least to be walked every day or have a back yard to play in. They are sensitive to heat so bring them in when its really hot and don’t walk them in the heat. They love to play, are athletic and competitive. Try agility, tracking, rally and obedience trials.

1Feeding the puppy – Feed this very active breed a high quality dog food for medium sized dogs. Feed puppies 3-4 times a day a total of ¾ to 1 cup.

2.Feeding the adult - feed this very active breed a high quality, high protein diet. Feed the adult 1-2 times a day a total of 1.6 cups of dry food.

3.Points for Good Health- the breed shows remarkable physical endurance.

4. Games and Exercises They are energetic, athletic and extremely agile. They are muscular and lithe and need a lot of exercise. The is a dog that can travel across rough terrain for hours at a time. They are tenacious hunters and need an outlet for that prey drive.

They need space and time to run. A large yard is great because you don’t want to take them to a dog park. Give them a lot of toys and puzzles. They excel at lure coursing, field trials and hunting trials. Their sense of smell makes them great at nose work and they like agility, tracking and rally obedience.